keller



Aug. 27, 1929u M. c. KELLER 1,726,028

JUVENILE PLAY DEVI CE Filed May 21. 1928 i" ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 27, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARK G. KELLER, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

JUVENILE PLAY DEVICE. Y

Application led May 21,

This invention relates to juvenile play devices and has for its objects improved construction in a device adapted to facilitate jumping.

Briefly described the invention comprlses a spring support adapted to be secured to a pcrsons shoepreferably one on each shoeso that when jumping the springs will be compressed and upon the rebound the wearer can jump to a great distance.

In the drawings accompanying this specification several modifications of my device are shown, Fig. 1 being a side elevation of a form made of a flat leaf spring doubled upon itself, Fig. 2 a form made of sheet metal and Fig. 3 a form made of spring Wire.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the form of device shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a cross section of the device of Fig. 3 as seen from the line 5 5 thereof, and Fig. 6 is a plan View of a portion of the device of Fig. 3 as seen from the line 6-6 thereof.

In the showing of Fig. 1 the device comprises a flat piece of spring steel 1 forming an upper run of suitable width to support the foot or shoe 2 of al user, and curved and doubled upon itself at 3 to form a lower run 4 adapted to lie adjacent the ground.

The upper run 1 is' provided with a heel cup or bracket 5 preferably made of sheet metal riveted or welded to the run 1 as at 6 and provided with a buckle strap 7 for strapping the device to the foot of the wearer like a pair of skates, while a toe strap 8 passing under the run 1 and riveted thereto as at 9 provides for strapping the toe in place so that the foot will not shift.

Under the heel end of the upper run of spring steel l is a relatively large bumper 10 of any material but preferably a cylinder of live rubber riveted or bolted in place by a countersunk bolt which limits the compression of the device when jumped upon thus protecting the spring loop 3 from rupture or injury, and the rubber 10 when compressed against the lower run or plate 4 greatly aids the spring loop 3 in rebounding the jumper.

To the underside of the lower run 4 are antiskid pads as at 11, 12 of brake band lining, rubber, or the like, firmly riveted in place.

In the construction shown in Figs. 2 and 4 the upper run or plate l and lower run 4 are made of sheet metal stampings, prefer- 1928. Serial N0. 279,444.

ably foot form, with side flanges as indicated to stiifen them, the side flanges being enlarged at 13, 14 to form coacting pivot lugs through which the two plates are pivoted together at the forward end by a pin 15.

The side flange of the upper plate is also enlarged at 16 and slotted for the toe strap 8, while at the rear end of the upper plate a sheet metal or leather heel cup 5 is riveted and provided with the foot strap 7.

To the underside of the lower plate 4 are two antiskid pads 11-12 same as shown in Fig. 1, while between the two runs is a heavy spiral compression spring 17 secured at its opposite ends to lugs formed in the plates and if desired also spot welded in place.

This construction of the spring makes it function to limit the opening of the two plates 1 and 4 as well as provide the resilient compression member to catapult a jumper wearing the devices, it being understood that in use the best results are secured when each foot is equipped with one of the devices.

In the construction shown in Fig. 3 I pr0 vide a heavy wire spring bent to form an upper run or loop l and a lower loop or run 4, the lower loop being butt welded at 18 so that the wire is endless. The upper and lower runs of wire are joined at the front end by two complete spring coils or loops of wire 19 formed and adapted to resiliently support the weight of a user while urging the upper and lower runs apart with great force.

On the lower run 4" of wire are two sheet metal cross braces 20-21 crimped and/or welded in place and to which are secured antiskid pads l1, 12 as described for the other constructions.

On the upper run a sheet metal cross plate brace 22 is provided also crimped and/or welded in place, and which plate is provided with ears slotted at 23 for the toe strap 8".

At the heel end of the device a heel cup 5 straddles the spaced runs of wires 1 as shown best in Fig. 5 and is secured in place by an under plate 24 crimped and/or welded to the wires 1 and riveted or'spot welded to the heel cup.

To the under side of plate 24 is secured the resilient bumper 10 as described for Fig. 1 and which bumper tho preferably made of a cylinder of live rubber, it will be understood without additional drawing {igures, may consist of a short spiral or other spring.

From the foregoing description the use and operation of the device will no doubt be clear, as a user simplystrapsone to eachY .biglits of spring wire, a lower tpair of laterally spaced vblglits of spring wire, transverse ,plates secured toand spacing` the upper pair of Wire .bigfhta transverse .plates secured to vand .spacing the lower pair yof wire bights,

spring wire .coils 'joining the upper and lower pair of bights at one end, and means for positioning and securingthe 'toot of a user to the upper pair of wire biglits.

2. In a device of tlie character described comprising,anuppcr .pair of laterally spaced bights of spring wire, a lower pair oit laterall-y spaced bights of spring wire, transverse plates secured toand spacing the upper pair of wire biglits, transverse plates secured to and spacing` the lower pair or" wire big-lits, spring wire coils joining the upper and lower pairs of bigl'lts at'one end, and means for positioning and securing` the foot of a 4user to .the upper pair of wire biglits.

MARK G. KELLER. 

